Finally Free - Charlie Gillespie

Chapter Sixteen

Charlie
Oh shit.

Kenedi
"Y-you're...you're in love with me?" I feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest.

We aren't even dating yet and he just told me he's in love with me.

Owen walks in and raises an eyebrow.

"I don't want to know." He walks back out and I look back at Charlie.

"I-I didn't mean to say that." My smile fades slightly. It's okay. He just said it in the heat of the moment.

"Oh. That's okay." I kiss his cheek moving off of his lap. "Do you wanna order room service? I haven't eaten all day and I'm starving."

"Yeah okay. Jeremy said he wanted to talk to you so why don't you go talk to him while I order it."

"Okay thank you. I just want a big bowl of mac and cheese and a diet coke." He raises an eyebrow at me. He doesn't like that I drink diet drinks specifically because he knows that diet drinks really affected me when my eating disorder was bad. "Okay okay. A root beer."

"Alright I'll text you when it's here."

"Thank you baby." I peck his lips then walk to Jeremy's room frowning slightly. I knock on the door sighing.

"Kenedi! Hey!" I smile at him hugging him.

"Hey Jer. What's up?"

"I just...I wanted to know if you're okay." I smile lightly at his concern.

"I honestly...don't really know how I feel right now."

"Do you want to talk about it? Carolynn is out with the girls right now so it's just us and the puppers." I laugh shaking my head and walk into his room.

"Thank you for your text by the way. It really meant a lot to me."

"Good. You deserve to feel cared for. Now talk to me!" I sigh sitting down on the bed and tell him everything that happened with my mom, both at the restaurant and at the house. "Woah."

"I know. She's insane."

"I'm so sorry she's like that."

"She's always been like that. That's why I told her I was going on a trip with coworkers." He sighs frowning.

"Have you told anyone?"

"You're the only person I told the full story to." He smiles lightly squeezing my hand.

"I feel honored that you trust me enough to talk to me." I look at his hand then back up to him and burst into sobs. I know he and Carolynn aren't thinking about having kids yet, but he's going to make an amazing dad.

I wish my dad was as understanding and caring as he is. Maybe then I wouldn't have been so fucked up.

"I'm sorry it's just I wish my dad was as caring as you." I say through my sobs feeling stupid for breaking down like this. He sits down next to me hugging me tightly.

I've never had a father-ish figure hug me like this which makes me just cry even harder. He gently smooths down my hair rocking me while humming into my ear softly.

"Your dad doesn't know what he's missing out on." He says softly as soon as I calm down. I laugh lightly wiping my nose.

"Thank you."

"I know I'm only a few years older than you, but it kinda feels like you're my kid." He laughs making me laugh.

"You're in my phone as father." He laughs harder as I show him.

"Well as your father, I have the right to ask you this. What's up with you and Charlie?" I sigh shakily looking down at my hands.

"He told me he's in love with me."

"WHAT!"

"And then he took it back. He said he didn't mean to say it."

"Did he look scared?" I nod wiping my eyes. I probably look like a raccoon by now. "He probably just said that because he was scared you don't feel the same way. You do feel the same way right?"

Do I? Do I love Charlie? Before I can even reason through my answer, my mouth speaks for me.

"Yes." He smiles at me.

"Then tell him."

"But we aren't even dating, Jer. What if he thinks it's too soon?"

"Everyone moves at their own pace, kiddo. I told Carolynn I was going to marry her before I even asked her to be my girlfriend and look where we are now." I smile lightly.

"I want what you and Carolynn have."

"And you'll find it. I promise you will. You just have to trust yourself enough to let it happen. I believe in you."

"Thank you, Jer. It means a lot to hear you say that. And thank you for being there for me."

"I always will be." I hug him tightly finally feeling like everything will be okay after all the shit that has happened today.

"Charlie and I ordered room service. Would you like to join us since it's just you?"

"I would love to, but Kenny is coming up soon so we can start working on some music for season two."

"OH! I forgot to tell you! He told me he has a part in mind for me."

"Oh I know. He already talked to me and Carolynn about it."

"He did? Why?"

"Because he wants you to play my love interest." I make a sour face thinking about it. I literally just sat here thinking of his in a fatherly way and now I have to act romantically with him? He laughs at my face knowing exactly what I'm thinking.

"Sorry that's just kinda weird for me."

"I know. It was weird for me too when I first started acting too, but you'll get used to it."

"Alright well have fun with Kenny. I wanna hear what you come up with later."

"Oh I'll definitely call you later!"

"Good." He kisses my forehead making me smile. I sigh leaving the room and look at my bracelets. I tap "I love you" onto the vibrating one and smile when I almost immediately get the same response.

I will be okay.